Edgar g



E. G. NICHOLS.

Transplanting Implement.

No. 70,457. Pa-Lnted Nov. 5. 1867.

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Witnesses:

Inventum @einen tartes atwt @fitta IMPLEMENT FOR TRANSPLANTING FLOWERS, die.

"elle .rhchulc afina tu in tlpst lvttn's t-linut mit mating putt nf the snuit.

'lO WIIOM IT MAY OONCERN:

Be it known that I, EDGAR G. NICHOLS, of the town' of Beaufort, district of'Beaufort, and State of South Carolina, have invented a new and useful Machine for 'lransplanting Flowers, Garden and Field Vegetables, Small Trees, and other plants, and that I have named the machine Edgar G. Nicholss lransplantcrg" and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference beingr had to the annered drawings, making a part of this specification, in which designatos handle, s shank, and Z; blade.

Figure 1 is a perspective view.

Figure 2, a longitudinal elevation of one blade before bending.

Figure 3, a horizontal section at the horizontal dotted line, said blade being bent to an angle, as shown in the figure.

Figure -l is a horizontal section of a bladea's I sometimes curve, viz, upon a cylinder. In making the pnttern for this style of blade, the diagonal lines which at tig. 2 are straight should be slightly convex.

Figure 5 is a. horizontal section of a blade-as it may be manufactured.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

Take a piece of steel plate, one twenty-fifth of an inch thick, eight inches wide, and thirteen and three quarter inches long. Mark upon it the outline designated in the drawings at fig. 2, magnified to suit the length and width above given. Bend it along its vertical axis till thc cross-section resembles .that shown at iig. Cut it out as marked. Make rivct-holes, fig. 2. Make a shank of iron, shaped as shown at fig. 1, but three timcsthc dimensions. The step or shoulder at the angle s should be so nearly horizontal that the foot will not slip from it. Rivet the lower end of the shank to the blade, andleave the upper end, as shown by' the dotted lines', iig. D, to fit into the handle. If the top of the bladehas been made horizontal, as I sometimes make it,

`the middle of the shank will not need to be formed into a step. Make the handle round, and then plane from one side so much that the cross-section at top is a-half circle, and at bottom two-thirds of a circle, or thereabout. Put a ring on the lower end of the handle. Bore the handle to receive the shank. Drive the handle on, and saw it 01T at about three feet from the extreme point of the blade. In small machines, for some uses, the handle may be made much shorter, if desired. You have now completed one part, or halt', or section of the transplantcr. Make the other like it, and the whole is finished. l

` The size and shape just described will be found the most generally useful, but the size may he varied to suit the uses for which it is intended. The thickness of the steel plate should be regulated by the strain to which it will be subject. The shape of the blade may be modified within certain limits, but every vertical line along the surface ofthe blade must be a straight line. The lower end of the blade must be an acute angle, and

the blades must together enclose a space. The two blades, as I have hereinbcfore directed them to be made,

will, when placed together, nearly represent the surface of an inverted quadrangular pyramid. Another style of blade may be described as a section of the convex surface of a cylinder, made by a. plane cutting the plane surface of the cylinder at one end into two half circles, and in its diagonal course leaving the cylinder before reaching the other end. A horizontal cross-scction of such a blade is shown at fig. 4. At vlig. 5 will be seen still another, which varies slightly from ig. 3.

'Io use the machine, take a handle in each hand. Set the point of one blade at the right and of the other at the left of the plant to be removed. The proper position of the machine is shown at g. 1. With the foot on the step at s,.drivc down one blade. Do the same with the other. Then, with one or both hands clamping the two handles togcther,'lift the machine containing the plantand the earth about it, and remove it to its destinnton. Fill the soil carefully against and cautiously remove the blades.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The making of a transplanter in two separate and similar parts, which, when united, enclose the roots of the plant and the soil next to them, preventing the soil from falling away from the roots in removing. I

2. The so curving, or bending, o1' manufacturing of the blades, las shown in this specification and the drawings annexed, (or the making of them in any manner which is substantially the same,) that while they enclose the necessary'space, yet shall they enter the soil with the least possible disturbance thereof.

3. The shaping of the lowei` end of the shank toreach across the top of the blade, stiicn it, und allow thinner metal to be used for it. i f

4. The making of a portion of the Shank horizontal, forming a step for the foot to drive down the blade. 5. The flattening of the handles on the sides approximating, to prevent slipping or rolling of the handles when clamped together. i

6. The making of a transplanter with handles so long that it can he used without any stooping at any part of the process; saving thus the largest and most unhealthy part of the labor.

EDG-AR Gr. NICHOLS.

Witnesses:

A. B. WooDWoRTn, Josmm C. MAYO. 

